Ireland open up with comfortable win over Italy

Ireland 55-15 Italy

Ireland’s Under-20 Rugby World Championship began in comfortable fashion following a 55-15 win over Italy in Cape Town.

It took just three minutes for Ireland to score their first try with Danny Sheahan finishing a fine move in the corner before Luke Murphy powered in after Italy had hit 10 points without reply.

It was 31-10 at the interval as Evan O’Connell landed a third try as the Italians messed up their own line-out before a brace from Sam Berman saw them comfortably in front.

He darted through brilliantly in the 27th minute before more superb footwork saw him break away from the Italians 38 minutes in.

Berman completed his hat-trick early in the second half – this time crashing over from close range – before Finn Treacy and Sean Naughton added further scores to secure a routine win.

In Pool B’s other game, Australia were 35-11 victors against Georgia.

Ireland face the Georgians next on 4 July.